Improved step-ladder



UNITED STATES PATlililnOnrloE.

C. G. UDELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVED STEP-LADDER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 90,973, dated June 8, 1869.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, C. G. UDELL, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented an Improved Step-Ladder5 and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and letters marked thereon, making a part of this specication, in which- Figure l is a perspective representation of my improved ladder 5 Fig. 2, an elevation of one of the brackets used to support the platform and form a part of the hinge; Fig. 3, a perspective representation of one of the attachments for connecting the bracing-frame to the bracket; Fig. 4, an elevation of one of the stiles, showing how it is slotted out to form a double segment.

The nature of the present invention consists in forming the stiles of the ladder of single pieces, so slotted out and sprung apart as to form segment-braces at each edge.

The stiles U are formed by slotting out their central parts, as shown at Fig. 4, leaving the ends solid, and then clamping them at f j', and so spreading the parts T outward as to form segments, as shown at Fig. l. They are then secured to the steps in the usual manner. Stiles made in this manner are much stronger and require less material in their construction than when formed of two segments fastened together at the ends, similar to those shown in Balsleys patent, while at the same time they can be made at less cost. Braces W V are used at the bottoms and tops ofthe larger ladders, but are not needed in the smaller ones. W represents the steps, A B the bracing-frame, and D the platform of the ladder. E E are metal brackets, which are fastened to the stilesU U by means of screws P, Fig. 1, put through holes S, Fig. 2, and to a platform, D, by means of screws put through lugs F, and which have eyes M formed in them to receive pivots K projecting out from the frame attachment G, Figs. 1 and 2, said eyes being elongated at N Fig. 2, to allow lugs L, Fig. 3, to pass through the brackets when the frameA B is swung out, as seen by dotted lines, Fig. 1, and to hold the pivots in place when the frame is secured to the stiles U by the cords C. These attachments G have anges, J, Fig. 3, that fit squarely on the top of the frame-pieces A A, and they are so re cessed out on both sides as to leave flanges H, which are tted closely to the edges of the frame-pieces A,the plates I, between the flanges, being fitted into slots made in the ends of said frame-pieces, and held there by rivets or wrought nails put through holes in the plates made for this purpose. By means of this construction and arrangement, the top part of the ladder is made very strong, and so as to support a much wider platform, D, than when the latter is fastened directly to the tops of the stiles U, while at the same time joints or hinges are provided` which are very strong and simple of construction, and so arranged as not to be detached from the frame-pieces A by use or accident.

Having thus described the ladder, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

The stiles U, formed of single pieces of material, slotted out at their central parts, and

so sprung outward as to form segments T T,

as set forth.

C. G. UDELL. Witnesses:

G. L. CHAPIN, E. E. GIBSON. 

